Psychodynamic Theories (just one part I hope)

Question 1

What’s the basic backstory behind Freud and how he developed leanings?

Answer 1

Worked in 30s Germany, became convinced that nationalism was a result of deep-seeded aggressive tendencies in people. Discovered that people could be cured just by talking about problems. This was “drawing unconsciousness into the open”

Question 2

Why did Freud want to draw unconscious issues into the open through therapy?

Answer 2

Because the rational mind could then deal with them through acknowledgement and rationalization

Question 3

Define psychodynamic theories

Answer 3

All works by Freud and followers that place an emphasis on subconscious. Also on childhood/urges

Question 4

Explain the id. What two principles does it contain?

Answer 4

primitive, reservoir of psychic energy (raw biological behaviours). Stupid and stubborn

1. Pleasure principle: immediate gratification
2. primary process thinking: relying on illogical fantasies.

Question 5

Explain the ego. What principles does it abide by?

Answer 5

Mediator between other two. Also wants to maximize gratification but only when appropriate

1. reality principle: delay gratification until appropriate outlets can be found
2. Secondary process thinking: rationalism/cognition

Question 6

Explain the superego. When does it emerge?

Answer 6

(often irrational) Demands of culture/society. Emerges at age 5 when we understand difference between right/wrong

Question 7

Give an example of the i/e/se fighting

Answer 7

See an attractive person, id urges you to fuck them, supergeo says you should be ashamed of this, ego tries to find a middle ground (asking them out)

Question 8

What are the three levels of conscious awareness? Which one has greatest influence?

Answer 8

1. conscious (here and now)
2. preconscious (middle name)
3. unconscious (repressed memories/desires, greatest influence)

Question 9

Describe the ice berg structure in terms of how it relates to the i/e/se and the levels of awareness

Answer 9

id/unc entirely underwater, biggest chunk. se/e are conscious precon, and unc (above and below)

Question 10

Explain the tyranny of sex and aggression.

Answer 10

Tension between three agents
Lack of clear rules relating to these
No vending machines for them
Also have biggest consequences

Question 11

What is anxiety caused by here? What does this result in?

Answer 11

Failure of ego to mediate unc conflicts. The deployment of defence mechanisms

Question 12

Explain the two conflicts that arise to create anxiety un the unc

Answer 12

1. id getting out of control and doing something terrible,

2. superego getting out of hand and exaggerating a transgression -> guilt

Question 13

If I fail a test because I don’t study, but assert that it’s actually the teacher’s fault, what mech am I using?

Answer 13

Rationalization “flagship”

Question 14

If I killed someone and then tried to forget about it, what mech am I using? Where am I actually putting these memories?

Answer 14

Repression. Unconscious (pressure cooker)

Question 15

If I blame the sexual tension between myself and someone else on that someone else liking me, what am I doing?

Answer 15

Projecting

Question 16

If I snap at my partner after having a bad day at “work”, what mech am I using? What’s at work here?

Answer 16

Displacement. e/se restrain behaviour which bottles up and explodes elsewhere

Question 17

What are Gay baptist breachers damning the gays to hell doing?

Answer 17

Reaction formation (the opposite of what your feel)

Question 18

If I start bragging about how good at basketball I am when I’ve been upshown, what am I doing?

Answer 18

Regression

Question 19

What is a proud boy doing when he joins up?

Answer 19

Identification. Increasing self esteem through association with a real or imagined group

Question 20

What is art and boxing for some people?

Answer 20

Sublimation -> “healthy” channels for sex and aggression respectively

Question 21

If a fact is so anxiety-inducing that I ignore it, what am I engaging in?

Answer 21

Denial

Question 22

What is the thinking behind the psychosexual stages? When is personality established by?

Answer 22

Personality is established at 5 because of the stages one has had to progress through since then. How kids deal with pleasures at certain stages. Fixation will negatively impact personality

Question 23

What is fixation caused by?

Answer 23

Too much gratification or frustration of needs

Question 24

If I overeat /smoke as an adult, what stage did I likely get fixated on?

Answer 24

1. Oral: biting/sucking

Question 25

What are the PS 5 stages real quick? When do the agents come into play?

Answer 25

1. oral (year one): biting/succ
2. anal (year two): bowel movements
3. phallic (four): object of desire in mom/oedipel complex
4. Latency (6-puberty): suppressed, expansion of relationships
5. Genital: agents start duking it out

Question 26

If I’m controlling or stingy as an adult, what did I get fixated on?

Answer 26

Controlling my bowel movements apparently

Question 27

During toilet training, if my parents punish me too much for failure, what stage is this in and what will the result be?

Answer 27

anal. Will have resentment towards parents for years to come, sex insecurity

Question 28

Explain what the fuck happens during the phallic stage

Answer 28

Need object for desire because dicks become prominent. Mother only one so grow attached, compete with father
-since kids don’t realize their thoughts can’t be heard, think dad will castrate them and are so traumatized they get over their attachment through suppression.

Question 29

What is penis envy?

Answer 29

Girls think having dicks is just the greatest so will resent mom for not giving them one? happens in phallic stage, attach to dad as surrogate

Question 30

Why is there no sensual pleasure in the latency period?

Answer 30

Because of the trauma from castration or whatever

Question 31

Why does desire reemerge in the genital stage

Answer 31

Because peers are new people

Question 32

What is the electra complex?

Answer 32

Theorized by Jung, Electra was a Greek princess, killed mother because she’d killed dad.